Bilinmeyenle Karşılaşmak

It has been 17 years since Oğur and Demircioğlu's last album, Anadolu Beşık. The best-loved duo of Turkish folk have finally released a new collection, all performed in their unique style. Two harmonising voices are supported by a variety of lutes and guitars played by Erkan Oğur and Demircioğlu's low-toned divan sazı (long-necked lute). Some of the best instrumentalists in today's Turkish folk contribute solos: Rıza Can Özel on kemenche (bowed lute), Emre Sınanmış on duduk (oboe), and Sinan Cem Eroğlu on kaval (flute). But the focus is on voices and texts, from ancient folk from Eastern Turkey to modern songs such as Zulfu Livaneli's ‘Eski Tüfek' and Mazlum Çimen's ‘Sen Benden Gittin Gideli’.
There's a key shown in a lock on the cover, but not a single word given in English anywhere: no concessions to non Turkish-speaking listeners. Brooding and stark, redolent of snowy Anatolian nights and wood smoke, it is deeply authentic and poetic. Bilinmeyenle Karşılaşmak is the real deal, but probably not for the uninitiated: as an introduction I'd recommend instead Erkan Oğur's instrumental album Hiç, also on Kalan.